An annual literature festival founded in 1988 by Norman and Peter Florence around a kitchen table. The Hay Festival of Literature & Arts is held to celebrate great writing from a variety of interests, this year, the invited special guests included illustrator Quentin Blake, Professor Mark Welland and writer Mariella Frostrup.
The Hay Festival takes place in the beautiful town of Hay-on-Wye in Wales for ten days. A camping village is set up where people can pitch up a tent but many choose to stay in the surrounding B&Bs and hotels. The Hay Festival has also expanded internationally to sister festivals taking place in exotic locations such as Nairobi, The Maldives and Beirut.
Laughs are delivered plentifully by many popular comedians/writers each night. This year features Ed Byrne, Ruby Wax, Katy Brand, Lee Mack, Dara O Briain, Mark Watson, and many more.
The festival fosters and promotes the idea of a meeting of the minds and an exchange of views, which is emphasised throughout. In recent years, a Hay Fever festival has been set up for children, young families, teenagers and programmes for schools.